Thompson dinghy

[ken mueller]

I have recently acquired a Thompson dinghy, 8 ft in length, with a flat back for a motor. Thanks to Mr. Rhude , of Thompson Antique and Classic Boat Rally, it was determined to be constructed around 1941-43. I would be interested in any additional information on this boat, such as materials used, in particular the outside gunnel, original color, etc. It is a canvas covered boat, built very much like the old wooden canoes, with bent ribs, half ribs, and thin planking covering the whole hull. Thanks!

[Thorne]

Welcome to the Forum!

Your best resource will probably be the one you've already contacted. There are several websites and some printed literature on boats like yours. You can also contact some of the other Thompson collectors/restorers listed on those websites.

Have fun!

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

You can purchase Thompson Boat et.al. brochures on a CD-ROM from www.dragonflycanoe.com (http://www.dragonflycanoe.com) and www.wcha.org (http://www.wcha.org).

These will be the only "specs" that can be found. There are NO company records. Probably few of these models around still. I have never heard of another.

The 1941 brochure indicates the ribs are "wide cedar" and planking is "thin cedar." No. 8 canvas covers the outside of the hull and is painted with white enamel. The seats, trim and interior are varnished natural. Fastenings are copper or brass. Oarlocks are included. Oars were $3.25 extra and cotton fender rope was $6.40 extra. The price for the boat was $71.50!

Thompson at Peshtigo used western red cedar. They also used northern white cedar fairly often - milled local to the factory.

Andreas Jordahl Rhude

[Thorne]

Andreas -

I wanted to thank you for the prompt response you made to my email query regarding a Thompson boat a month ago, and to the many others like Ken's above.

[BETTY-B]

I sure would like to see some pics of this cool sounding, little Thompson.

DAN

[ken mueller]

I will be happy to send you some pictures. I am unable to post them because of their size, and computer challenged, so I can't shrink them. Contact me at km933@neo.rr.com. Anyone else is welcome to view my pictures, please feel free to do so!

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

Here is an image from the 1941 brochure of Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee189/ThompsonBoat/Dinghy1941.jpg

[ken mueller]

Thanks, that's my boat!!

[gjonz]

I have one as well.

8 footer. Got it for 200 bucks, but the guy before me had fiberglassed it. I had to have the glass fixed as there was no way to get it off, but it is a fun little boat. I run a lot of vintage/antique outboards from .8 to 3hp on it. Yes I do take it our on the Maumee River here in Toledo. Nuthin' like a big fat guy (265lbs) with a big cigar and captains hat putting along with a noisy little outboard to make people smile.

I had mine at a Antique Boat show here in Toledo...and anyone with a camera stopped and smiled and took 10 gazillion photos of her. She is named for my wife's departed grandmother...and elegant lady...just like this little boat.

She pleases me a great deal and I take care of here as if she were worth a million dollars.

When I got here it was from an older man here in Toledo. He had disassembled her and and had all her parts except the keel, seats, and a piece of trim from her transom. I replicated the parts as best I could. However her gunnels were made of mahogany as were her knees and breast-hook. The seats were probably pine, but I used mahogany on that too. Mine also had the optional rope rub rails on here gunnels as there were holes drilled already, so I put 1 inch rope back in place. The fellow had also saved all the original silicon bronze fastenings and other hardware in yogurt containers. These parts were reused as well.

She can be seen on my blog at the link below.

http://conductorjonz.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/my-favorite-things-celebrating-the-holidays-with-ramsey-brothers-and-the-metroparks/



Greg

[Thorne]

Looks like a fun restoration project !

http://conductorjonz.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/sam_1177.jpg?w=655

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

too cool for school!!

Andreas

[capefox]

I'm guessing it's worth a bit more than 71.50 these days

[gjonz]

I had a very nice lady at Tavaras/Lake Dora offer me 4500.00 cash...and several others a bit more. I couldn't do it. The varnish was hardly dry! I could still smell it!

Besides...she is named for my wife's grandmother...whom we both miss and adored.

No sir...she's very special to us. Besides how ofter do beautiful girls walk up and say...

"Oh! I love your dinghy. It sooooo cute!"

Been a while for me. I'll take what I can get these days.

Greg

[Tom Robb]

You need a longer tiller;)

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

You should bring her to the Thompson Antique & Classic Boat Rally. 22 June 2013 at Marinette, WI. Or to the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association annual Assembly 9-14 July 2013 in upstate New York. They are featuring Thompson canoes this year. The dingy is pretty darn close to a wood/canvas canoe. www.wcha.org (http://www.wcha.org)

Andreas

[gjonz]

My wife and I want to go to a Thompson rally and bring both the dink and our 14 foot Lake TVT. But the 14 footer is getting a refit.

Greg